COVID-19 MEETING. Ormoc City Mayor Richard Gomez in a meeting with local officials on Wednesday (March 18, 2020). Businesses in Ormoc City not providing essential goods and services are up for temporary closure starting March 20,2020, the city government said in its revised guidelines on coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) response. (Photo courtesy of Ormoc City government)
TACLOBAN CITY – Businesses in Ormoc City not providing essential goods and services are up for temporary closure starting Friday, the city government said in its revised guidelines on coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) response.
Mayor Richard Gomez signed Executive Order No. 31 on Thursday asking business establishments to suspend their operations starting 5:01 a.m. on March 20.
“Private establishments providing essential goods and services shall remain operational, provided that said establishments shall function with a strict skeleton workforce and shall observe strict social distancing measures,” Gomez said in his directive.
Allowed to operate are businesses engaged in food and medicine production, food retail shops, public markets, grocery stores, health facilities, take-out food services, food delivery, banks, money transfers, water and power firms, telecommunications, gasoline stations, media, auto supply stores and hard wares, funeral services, and cemeteries.
The revised guidelines came just six days after Gomez issued an executive order creating the Covid-19 task force in Ormoc on March 13.
On the same day, the mayor issued another directive prescribing guidelines for the prevention, containment, contract tracing and measures against the disease.
On March 13, the local government prescribed the guidelines for the four-day workweek for city hall workers.
On March 14, the city released guidelines for the establishment of border control points and submission of health forms by all persons entering the city.
On the same day, the mayor also ordered the temporary closure of Lake Danao and Ormoc Museum.
The city government, through a directive signed by Gomez on March 17, banned the entry of non-residents via land, sea, and air travel. The directive came after two-day entry restrictions.
Ormoc City, the commercial hub of northwest part of Leyte province, is the region’s major gateway to Cebu City through the regular boat and fast craft trips.
With a population of over 215,000 people, it is the second-most populous city in Eastern Visayas after Tacloban City. (PNA)
